Val Kilmer signed on for “As Deep as the Grave” in 2020, Variety reports. But he was already suffering from throat cancer and was never able to film his scenes. Kilmer died last year.
Filmmaker Coerte Voorhees, with the family's consent, has instead used generative AI (artificial intelligence) to create a digital replica of Kilmer and mimic his voice.
Voorhees says the family repeatedly said that the film was important both to them and to Kilmer himself.
"It was that support that gave me the confidence to say, 'Okay, we're doing this.' Even though some people might find it controversial, it's what Val wanted," says Voorhees.
AI was also used to recreate Kilmer's voice in the film "Top Gun: Maverick".
